Patent Application
20120284096
The present invention relates generally to methods for measuring utility meters and incentivizing efficient use of utility resources such as gas, water, and electricity.
As resources such as gas, water, and electricity become more scarce, the importance of conservation and efficient use of such resources becomes increasingly important. There are several challenges in increasing conservation and efficiency in the case of resource use via a public utility. One challenge relates to the lack of accurate and up-to-date resource use information. While smart meters can provide real-time feedback, they are expensive to deploy and maintain. Another challenge with resource conservation is related to behavior modification. Energy efficient technologies, for example, only help reduce consumption to a limited degree as long as consumers do not control the heating, cooling, and lighting in their homes with energy conservation in mind. Effectively changing consumer behavior, however, remains a challenge. Thus, there remains a long-standing need to provide accurate, up-to-date, and inexpensive methods for measuring utility meters and for incentivizing conservation of resources used by utility customers.
In one aspect, the invention provides a method for incentivizing efficient use of a utility resource such as gas, water, or electricity. A user device, such as a smart meter or portable smart phone, records a current utility meter reading such as a numerical value representing utility use and/or image of the meter. The meter reading may be recorded by manual entry by a user, automatically by a wired or wireless connection to the meter, or by processing a digital image of the meter. In some embodiments, the smart phone may display a utility meter avatar while the user is taking a meter reading photograph or entering a meter reading manually. The utility meter reading is preferably tagged with associated metadata including timestamp, location, and meter serial number.
The recorded current utility meter reading and associated information is then sent from the user device to a server where it is processed. The processing may include identifying the user account by identifying information such as meter serial number, account number, and/or location information. The server may also process an image of the current utility meter reading to recognize a digital value representing a meter reading. The recognized digital value may then be compared with a digital value submitted by the user as a verification. The location and time metadata of the image may also be used to validate the authenticity of the image by comparing it with time and location metadata stored at the server and associated with the user account.
The server also processes the current meter reading data to assign to the user a credit award if the recorded current utility meter reading indicates that the user engaged in desirable resource consumption. Such desirable resource consumption may be computed, for example, based on a predetermined function computed on the set of utility meter readings and the times that those readings were submitted, e.g., awarding credits if the maximum time interval between readings over the course of a week is less than a predetermined minimum value. If this condition is met, then the server awards credits to the user. Alternatively, or in addition, the determination of whether the user engaged in desirable resource consumption may be based on many other conditions. For example, credits may be awarded if the user reduced consumption during peak hours, if utility meter readings are submitted by the user above a predetermined frequency, if utility meter readings submitted by the user are verified as being accurate, or if the user verifies a utility meter reading submitted by another user. Thus, in some embodiments, the method may include transmitting by the server to the user device a randomly selected utility meter reading submitted by another user, where the utility meter reading includes an image of a utility meter and a numerical value, displaying by the user device the image of the utility meter and the numerical value, receiving by the server from the user device a verification of the numerical value, and awarding by the server to the user a credit award.
In some embodiments, the method may include calculating by the server a target resource use profile for the user based on past resource use by the user and weather forecasts, and awarding by the server to the user a credit award if the recorded current utility meter reading indicates that the user resource consumption is less than the target resource use profile. In some embodiments, the method may include calculating by the server a utility use recommendation for the user based on past use by the user, and awarding by the server to the user a credit award if the recorded current utility meter reading indicates that the user followed the utility use recommendation. In some embodiments, the method may include calculating by the server a utility use recommendation for the user based on projected utility demands, and awarding by the server to the user a credit award if the recorded current utility meter reading indicates that the user followed the utility use recommendation. In some embodiments, the method may include receiving by the server from the user a utility use goal for a specified time period, and awarding by the server to the user a credit award if the recorded current utility meter reading indicates that the user met the utility use goal. Users may also be awarded by the server a credit award if the user submits to the server a photo of a utility bill of the user. Such a bill may be used by the server for meter reading verification, or for initially registering by the server a new user account for the user.
In some embodiments, the method may also include sending to the user device information including cumulative awarded credits earned and historical user data, both of which may be displayed on the user device. Embodiments also preferably allow the user to also view the same information on a desktop computer using a browser application program. Historical user data may be displayed, for example, as a graph of past meter reading values with respect to time, superimposed on a target resource use profile which may include a resource use zone associated with increased award credits. The graph may be displayed such that it represents the historical user data as the progress of an animal.
In some embodiments, the method includes transmitting by the server to a social network credit award information associated with the user device, whereby the credit award information may be shared in the social network with neighbors of the user. The method may also include transmitting from the server to the user device credit award and/or resource use information of other users, and displaying the credit award and/or resource use information of other users on the user device in comparison to the credit award and/or resource use information of the user.
The method also allows the user to redeem accumulated credit awards for user participation in a micro-raffle or other game of chance (i.e., any scheme wherein participation by a user results in a less than 100% chance of receiving a reward). For example, the server may provide and transmit information to the user device for displaying a random rewards interface on the user device. The random rewards interface may implement a lottery, micro-raffle, or other game of chance. For example, the server may randomly select one or more winners from among users awarded credits, and transfer rewards to the randomly selected winners. In some embodiments, the random selection by the server is performed such that a user awarded more credits has a greater chance of being selected than a user awarded fewer credits. In addition, the random selection by the server is preferably performed such that a user awarded more credits has a greater chance of being selected for a larger reward than a user awarded fewer credits.
Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in a system as shown schematically in
A method for incentivizing efficient use of a utility resource, according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in the flowchart of
Returning now to
In step 206 the server processes the current meter reading data to assign to the user a credit award. The server may award credits to the user subject to various predetermined criteria indicating that the user engaged in desirable resource consumption behavior. Such criteria may be used separately in different embodiments, but typically a set of such criteria are combined and used together so that credit awards may be earned in any of various different ways. For example, if the recorded current utility meter reading indicates that the user reduced resource consumption during peak hours, the server can assign an award credit to the user. Awards can also be assigned to the user based on a variety of other conditions including awarding credits if utility meter readings are submitted by the user at a predetermined frequency, such as three times a day or more. More precisely, the server may compute a predetermined function on the set of utility meter readings of a user and the times that those readings were submitted such that, for example, credits are awarded if the maximum time interval between readings over the course of a week is less than a predetermined minimum value. If this condition is met, then the server awards credits to the user. Credits can be awarded if utility meter readings submitted by the user are verified by the server as being accurate, or if the user verifies a utility meter reading submitted by another user. For example, if the results of the optical character recognition match the numerical value of the meter reading submitted by the user, the server may award credits to the user. Also, embodiments of the invention may include awarding points when a user's submitted value is verified by another user. For example, a user may verify the submitted readings of another user by transmitting from the server to the user device a randomly selected utility meter reading submitted by another user. The user device then displays the image of the utility meter reading and the numerical value of the reading, and the user either verifies that they match or not, e.g., by selecting an ‘Correct’ button or a ‘Wrong’ button. The selection is then sent to the server from the user device. If the selection indicates that the value is verified, then the server may award credits to both the user whose value was validated as well as the user who performed the validation. Alternatively, the user device may display the image of the utility meter reading, and the user responds by typing in the numerical value of the meter reading. The typed in numerical value is then sent to the server for validation. If validated, the server may then award credits to both the user whose value was validated as well as the user who performed the validation.
In some embodiments, the method may include calculating by the server a target resource use profile for the user based on past resource use by the user and weather forecasts. The target profile is preferably calculated in a customized manner based on the individual user-specific data such as, for example, historical resource use data, building data, localized weather forecast data, and geographical location data. The target profile may also be calculated based in part on utility resource demand predictions and credit pool budget levels for the rewards scheme. These factors are all combined in order to optimize resource use efficiency and the effectiveness of the rewards. This computed target resource use profile data, as well as other data such as localized weather data and historical resource use data, may then be transmitted to the user device for display. For example,
Historical user data may be displayed, for example, as a graph of past meter reading values with respect to time, superimposed on a target resource use profile which may include resource use zone associated with increased award credits. In a preferred embodiment, the plot 406 is represented as the progress of an animal (e.g., a caterpillar or other insect) or vehicle (e.g., car or plane). In the example shown, the user is awarded 2 points each day that the plot 406 of the meter readings remains to the left of both dashed lines. If the plot 406 is to the left of just one of the two lines, only 1 point is awarded. And if the plot 406 extends off to the right of both dashed lines, 0 points are awarded. Thus, the user is awarded a credit award if the recorded current utility meter reading indicates that the user resource consumption is less than (i.e., to the left of) the target resource use profile. It should be noted that the graph is represented so that the progress of the plot goes to the right of the most recent prior point and then downward to the next point. This naturally encourages the user to submit readings more frequently in order to keep the plot to the left of the target profile lines 404 and 402.
In some embodiments, the server may calculate a utility use recommendation for the user based on projected utility demands, such as recommendation 408 displayed as an offer of 5 credits if the user remains below the target profile on Friday of the displayed week, which is a day that the utility expects unusually high demand (e.g., due to very hot or very cold weather). The server then awards the user the credit award if the recorded current utility meter reading indicates that the user followed the utility use recommendation.
Utility use recommendations calculated by the server for the user may be calculated and offered to all customers in a particular class (e.g., in a certain geographical region) based on expectations of utility demand, availability of the utility resource, and current balance of the server's award fund. In addition, such recommendations may be calculated based on information specific to individual customers, e.g., based on past use patterns by the user, past behavior by the user in response to recommendations, and other information about the user or user's home. Such customized recommendations can offer different point award values to different users in order to optimize the value of the awards for the utility. When an individual user's meter readings indicate that they have followed the recommendation, the server awards the user a credit award.
In some embodiments, the user may set a utility use goal for a specified period of time (e.g., the coming week) and submit the goal to the server. Such goals may be submitted in response to a solicitation by the server which may include a suggestion of a goal for the user. If the recorded current utility meter readings for the specified period indicates that the user met the utility use goal, the server awards the user a credit award.
Users may also be awarded by the server a credit award if the user submits to the server a photo of a utility bill of the user. The user may, for example, take a photograph of a monthly utility bill and upload it to the server using the smartphone in a manner analogous to how the user uploads meter reading photographs. The bill photograph is preferably tagged with timestamp and location metadata. After receiving such a bill photograph from a user, the server can use it to verify meter readings for the billing period of the bill. The uploading of a utility bill by a user may also be used to facilitate initial account registration of a new user in the incentive award system. A new user, for example, can use the mobile application to enter their name 310 and utility meter serial number 306. The user can then take a photo of a recent utility bill, which the server can use to confirm that the user setting up the account is properly associated with a given utility meter.
The server preferably sends to the user device various types of information at various times for display on the user device. The information may include, for example, cumulative awarded credits earned by the user, target profile data, utility use recommendations, historical user meter reading data, and so on. An embodiment illustrated in
Color coding and other techniques can be used to facilitate the identification of users in the display who have earned more or fewer credits than other users in a neighborhood, or have used more or less resource. For example, other users in a neighborhood that use more resources than the device user could be displayed in red while other users in the neighborhood that use less resources than the device user could be displayed in green. The device user thus easily sees how his or her resource use compares with others in the neighborhood. A similar technique could be used for displaying award points of users in the neighborhood. In some embodiments, each cell may also display an image of a representative animal or vehicle selected by the user associated with the cell.
A significant feature of the incentive award system of the present invention is the integration with a micro-lottery, a micro-raffle, or other game of chance as a means for users to redeem their accumulated credit awards. For example, the server may provide and transmit information to the user device for displaying a random rewards interface on the user device. The random rewards interface may implement a lottery, micro-raffle, or other game of chance. For example,
In another implementation, the raffle or lottery is held periodically (e.g., once a week), where the total value of the winner awards is determined by the total accumulated points being redeemed in that period. In some embodiments, multiple winners are selected randomly from among users awarded credits for following resource use recommendations. In some embodiments, the raffle or lottery has a pyramid style structure, a shown in
The multiple levels of this scheme provide occasional winnings of smaller amounts even to users with low accumulated credits, motivating them to continue earning credits. At the same time, the scheme provides motivation for users at various credit levels to earn more credits in order to be eligible for the larger prizes at higher levels.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/518,417 filed May 4, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61518417 | May 2011 | US |
